Mid-Maine Chamber to host “meet the reps”

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Mid-Maine Chamber of Commerce and KV Connect will host “Meet the Reps,” an event that brings members of the business community and public together with elected officials at all levels of government, Wednesday, February 5, 2020 from 5:30-7 p.m., at Chace Community Forum, located at 150 Main Street, in Waterville (Bill & Joan Alfond Main Street Commons).

The two organizations renewed their partnership for the upcoming legislative session in order to continue to encourage communication between business and community leaders, professionals and young professionals, and their government representatives.

The event is free and open to the public, but registration is appreciated. Please contact Mid-Maine Chamber of Commerce at 873-3315 or cindy@midmainechamber.com if you plan to attend. This event is possible thanks to the sponsorship of Central Maine Growth Council and Kennebec Savings Bank.

Mid-Maine Chamber of Commerce is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to promoting and advocating for business prosperity and regional economic improvement. Their region includes the towns of Albion, Belgrade, Benton, Branch Mills, Burnham, China, Clinton, Fairfield, Hinckley, Oakland, Rome, Shawmut, Sidney, South China, Thorndike, Unity, Vassalboro, Waterville, Weeks Mills, and Winslow. Legislators and councilors from all of these towns and cities have been invited. For more information on the Mid-Maine Chamber of Commerce, including how to become a member, call (207) 873-3315 or visit www.midmainechamber.com.

KV Connect, greater Waterville’s affiliate of the Realize Maine Network, fosters community among young professionals to create economic growth in the region. To learn more about KV Connect, visit www.kvconnect.org or e-mail kvconnectme@gmail.com.

TOCmedia to host three new social-media marketing business-breakfast events

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TOCmedia will host three new social media marketing business-breakfast events, “How to Recruit & Retain Top Talent on Social Media.” The series will kick-off on Friday, January 31, at Thomas College, on West River Road, in Waterville.

TOCmedia, the Waterville-based digital marketing firm, has announced the next three upcoming presentations in its popular “Social Media Breakfast Central Maine” (SMBCME) series of business-breakfast presentations. Hosted by Tracy O’Clair, President/CEO of TOCmedia, the social-media marketing business-breakfast series is designed to empower local business, nonprofit, and entrepreneurial marketers. The series is sponsored by The Harold Alfond® Institute for Business Innovation at Thomas College.

Each “Social Media Breakfast Central Maine” presentation will spotlight 2020’s best practices in social-media marketing, as revealed by a speaker from one of Maine’s most marketing-savvy business organizations or nonprofits.

The first presentation, on Friday, January 31, will feature Rob Gould and Katie Denoia, Director of Public Relations and Strategic Communications Specialist, respectively, at WEX Inc., who will speak on the topic “How to Recruit & Retain Top Talent on Social Media.” Rob and Katie will reveal today’s most savvy social-media tactics for highlighting your organization’s culture, increasing engagement with great future employees, and showcasing why you offer a great place to work.

Subsequent Winter 2020 SMBCME speakers will be Anthony Ronzio, Director of Digital Strategy at Colby College, who will present “Going Digital in a Physical World” on Friday, February 28; and Luke Labree, Chief Marketing Officer at Dennis Paper & Food Service, speaking on the topic “The Secret to a Successful Social Media Strategy” on Friday, March 27. Each of the SMBCME speakers was carefully selected for his/ her distinctive talent, social media expertise, and ability to illuminate and share empowering advice and insights to marketers in today’s rapid-paced, constantly changing digital-marketing landscape.

Each SMBCME event will be held in the Spann Student Commons, at Thomas College, 180 West River Road, in Waterville. Advance registration and payment of $15 is recommended for your convenience at http://Social-Media-Breakfast-Central-Maine.eventbrite.com. The admission fee includes breakfast and coffee, plus a 30-minute business-networking opportunity from 7:30 to 8 a.m. For more information, please visit www.Thomas.edu/haibi or call Tracy O’Clair at (207) 512-0532.

Tracy O’Clair, President/CEO of TOCmedia and a certified Constant Contact solutions provider, founded her digital marketing firm in 2009 and launched the “Social Media Breakfast Central Maine” series of educational presentations in 2014. TOCmedia serves businesses and other organizations who want to successfully spotlight their brand, enhance their growth, and heighten their visibility through social-media marketing management, email marketing, digital advertising, and blogging solutions. For more information, please visit https://toc-media.com/ .

Named for Maine’s premiere entrepreneur and innovator, The Harold Alfond® Institute for Business Innovation at Thomas College has been established to spur economic vitality in Central Maine by nurturing the very talent that will assist in the creation of both jobs and wealth for the area. The institute provides the platforms from which instruction, training, events, mentoring, and access to talent are all made available within the context of entrepreneurship and innovation. For more information, please visit www.thomas.edu/institute.

Singing Valentines

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The Heart & Soul quartet

Heart & Soul, a quartet with the Maine-ly Harmony a cappela barbershop chorus, is one of the groups that will be delivering singing Valentines in central Maine. To have the group sing for your sweetheart, call Lea at 622-1273, email leadavis@roadrunner.com, or Betty at 626-0225, bavery1937@gmail.com.

Valentine Vaudeville

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Pictured, from left to right, front row, Emily Rowden Fournier, Maria Wark, Shana Page, and Katie Howes. Back, Joshua Fournier, Joseph Page and Jennifer Mayers. (photo by Ryan N. Toothaker)

Enjoy a night out at Valentine Vaudeville with a buffet dinner and floor show at 6 p.m., on Saturday, February 8, in the Ballroom, at Governor’s Restaurant, in Waterville. Purchase tickets online at signupforms.com/registrations/20575 or by calling 207-314-8607. For more information, contact Emily Fournier at 314-8607.

Erskine Academy girls basketball team holds fundraiser for Multiple Sclerosis

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Participants in the Erskine Academy girls basketball team fundraiser for Multiple Sclerosis, held at the school on January 26. Over $500 was raised for those stricken with MS, who need help with medical bills. (photo courtesy of Jane Golden)

Cassidy Roderick, left, with Erskine girls basketball coach Bob Witts. (photo courtesy of Jane Golden)

The Erskine Academy girls’ basketball team hosted a charity basketball clinic on January 26 with proceeds going to the Maine chapter of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. Thirty-five athletes between the ages of 8 and 12 came to the two-hour clinic to not only learn skills, but to also help raise funds for this worthy cause. Coach Bob Witts and several members of the girls’ basketball team worked with the clinic participants to run them through fun drills, teach them skills, and to play a few games.

Over $550 was raised at this event, which will go towards getting wheelchairs and walkers for people as well as helping pay medical bills for those that cannot afford it in Maine with multiple sclerosis (MS).

One of the Erskine basketball players, Mackenzie Roderick, has been personally affected by MS, as her sister, Cassidy, was diagnosed with the disease a year and a half ago, making this cause very special to her and her teammates. Cassidy joined the participants at the clinic, speaking to the kids and parents about how her wheelchair helps her, especially when she needs to walk a great distance or for a long amount of time.

This was a great way to inform the community about MS and its effects on the lives of those who have it. Congratulations to the Erskine Academy girls’ basketball team for holding such an important fundraiser, and thank you to the community for supporting this cause!

Submitted by Jane Golden, VP of HR, JMG Central Office, 65 Stone Street, Augusta, ME 04330.

Erskine Academy to host eighth grade open house

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(photo credit: Erskine Academy)

All eighth grade students and their parents from the surrounding communities are invited to attend the Erskine Academy 8th Grade Open House on Wednesday, February 26, at 6:30 p.m., in the gym. The administration strongly encourages all incoming freshmen and their parents to attend this event as registration materials will be available and information about the course selection process will be provided. In the case of inclement weather, a snow date of Thursday, February 27th has been set.

Parents who are unable to attend this event are asked to contact the Guidance Office at 445-2964 to request registration materials.

Social Security launches new campaign to fight scammers

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Campaign comes at a time of increased scamming activity in central Maine

The Social Security Administration launched a new Public Service Announcement (PSA) campaign to continue warning people about the ongoing nationwide telephone impersonation scheme. The PSAs feature a message from Social Security Commissioner Andrew Saul. Social Security and its Office of the Inspector General (OIG) continue to receive reports about fraudulent phone calls from people falsely claiming to be Social Security employees. The scammers mislead victims into making cash or gift card payments for help with purported identity theft, or to avoid arrest for bogus Social Security number problems.

“I want every American to know that if a suspicious caller states there is a problem with their Social Security number or account, they should hang up and never give the caller money or personal information. People should then go online to oig.ssa.gov to report the scam call to Social Security,” said Commissioner Saul.

People should also be on the lookout for a new version of this scam. Fraudsters are now emailing fake documents in attempts to get people to comply with their demands. Victims have received emails with attached letters and reports that appear to be from Social Security or the OIG. The letters may use official letterhead and government jargon to convince victims they are legitimate; they may also contain misspellings and grammar mistakes.

The new PSA addressing the telephone impersonation scheme is available online at www.youtube.com/socialsecurity and below:

Social Security employees do occasionally contact people – generally those who have ongoing business with the agency – by telephone for business purposes. However, Social Security employees will never threaten a person, or promise a Social Security benefit approval, or increase, in exchange for information or money. In those cases, the call is fraudulent and people should just hang up.

Generally, the agency mainly calls people who have recently applied for a Social Security benefit, someone who is already receiving payments and requires an update to their record, or a person who has requested a phone call from the agency. If a person is not in one of these situations, they normally would not receive a call from the agency.

Social Security will not:

  • Tell you that your Social Security number has been suspended.
  • Contact you to demand an immediate payment.
  • Ask you for credit or debit card numbers over the phone.
  • Require a specific means of debt repayment, like a prepaid debit card, a retail gift card, or cash.
  • Demand that you pay a Social Security debt without the ability to appeal the amount you owe.
  • Promise a Social Security benefit approval, or increase, in exchange for information or money.

If there is a problem with a person’s Social Security number or record, in most cases Social Security will mail a letter. If a person needs to submit payments to Social Security, the agency will send a letter with instructions and payment options. People should never provide information or payment over the phone or Internet unless they are certain of who is receiving it.

Maine Sci-Fi & Fantasy Nerd Festival comes to central Maine

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“Who ya gonna call?” The Ghostbusters were sighted at the first ever Maine Sci-Fi & Fantasy Nerd Festival, held in Fairfield, on January 26. (photo by Mark Huard, Central Maine Photography)

Hundreds attend the first ever “Nerd Super Bowl”

by Mark Huard

Emilee Feyler, 9, of Winslow, left, and Mikayla Achorn, 9, also of Winslow, with Elsa from Frozen. (photo by Mark Huard, Central Maine Photography)

The first ever Maine Sci-Fi & Fantasy Nerd Festival invaded Central Maine on January 26, at the Community Center, in Fairfield. About 250 fans gathered to share their love of cosplay, comics, games, and all things nerdy.

Costume-goers included Spider-Man, a giant Wookiee, Batman, an Ice Princess, Captain America, Wonder Woman and so many more.

Vendors were all about the event with tables filled with fantasy books, pottery, dice, dungeons and dragons, toys, woodworks, clothing and jewelry. GameStop provided video games, while many other activities dotted the place, one being a very popular padded weapons arena that included light up Star Wars-like laser swords.

Central Maine Photography grabbed many cool pictures of all the various festival attendees and even kids were dressed in elaborate sci-fi outfits. Also present were the Ghostbusters, a white armored trooper, and even a blue female elf character.

People really seemed to love what was being hailed as the Nerd Super Bowl put on by Michael Huard, who is a fantasy author himself.

There are plans for another next year, an event bigger and even more exciting.

Trenton Clark, right, of Oakland, with Chewbacca of Star Wars. (photo by Mark Huard, Central Maine Photography)

At left, Preston Schneider, 8, left, and Quincy Schneider, 5, both of Madison, with Batman. (photo by Mark Huard, Central Maine Photography)

Tickets available for Vassalboro fishing derby

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Vassalboro Fishing Derby will take place on Sunday, February 9, from 1-5 p.m., at the Olde Mill, 934 Main St., North Vassalboro.

The prizes! You don’t have to fish to win. There are over $600 in cash prizes from $50 to $300, plus a $256 Natanis Golf package, a voucher for two round trip Amtrak Downeaster tickets, Huhtamaki plates, Framed Pictures, Baskets of Goodies, and many other great gifts from very generous area businesses!

Family Fishing Fun! There’s $940 in cash prizes for 12 categories of fishing. In each category First prize is $40, Second is $20, and Third is $10. There is a kids (12 and under) category, PLUS each youngster who fishes earns a “Vassalboro Fishing Derby” ball cap! There is a trophy and $100 prize for the largest fish (not including pike). The categories include salmon, togue, brown trout, brook trout, white perch, splake, pickerel, pike, large mouth bass, black crappie and small mouth bass. In order to enter the fishing derby you must have one raffle ticket (purchased before 1 PM on 2/9/2020) per fish entered.

Support of Vassalboro Business Association projects! Proceeds from the event help sponsor the Flags along Main Street, the Welcome to Vassalboro Signs, Vassalboro Days, Scholarships for Vassalboro Students, the Color Me Too Fun Run, Halloween at the Olde Mill, the Community Tree Lighting, the Easter Festival, Bikes for Books, the fight against VCS Food Insecurity, and new this year—the Eighth Grade “Maine Event” project.

Tickets are $1 each or 6 for $5 and available from Ray Breton (877-2005), Jim Maloy (441-0378), Linda Titus (631-3303) and Bernie Fortin as well as at Maine Savings FCU, the Olde Mill Store, Rte. 201 Battery & Tire, and the Vassalboro Library.

So the real question is how many books of 6 tickets would you like?

The drawings will begin promptly at 5 p.m., on February 9, at the Olde Mill. You do not have to be present to win! Your purchase will make a difference in our community.

*Here’s a tip — save address labels to speed your ability to fill out those tickets! Or make your own and include your phone number so we can notify you!

Erskine holds fundraiser for koalas

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Contributed photo

Students and staff at Erskine Academy recently held a dress down day to raise funds for the Koala Hospital, in Port Macquarie, NSW, Australia.

The Koala Hospital’s efforts include the rescue and treatment of sick and injured koalas, conservation and expansion of koala habitats, research relating to habitat, disease, nutrition and habits of wild koalas, and provides educational materials to increase public awareness of all aspects of the koala. Pictured are members of the student council who helped organize the dress down day effort.